'I was in the wrong.

I did it with my eyes open.

If a man gets a prisoner to guard and lets him go, the least he can expect is to be degraded.' 'You will be paid for it,' said he.

'You did well for yourself and better for your king.' 'If I had thought I was injuring my emperor,' said I, 'I would have let M.de Mauseant burn in hell ere I had helped him, and be sure of that! I saw in him only a private person in a difficulty: I let him go in private charity; not even to profit myself will I suffer it to be misunderstood.' 'Well, well,' said the lawyer, 'no matter now.

This is a foolish warmth--a very misplaced enthusiasm, believe me! The point of the story is that M.de Mauseant spoke of you with gratitude, and drew your character in such a manner as greatly to affect your uncle's views.